Automatic gripping-clutch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. L. MITCHELL.

AUTOMATIC GRIPPING CLUTCH.

Patented Dec. 20,1887.

I wll llllllll |||m (No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 2.

J. L. MITCHELL.

AUTOMATIC GRIPPING GLUTOH.

No. 375.180. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ionAsL. MITCHELL, OF LOGAN, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC GRIPPING-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,180, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed June 10, 1886. Renewed June 11, 1887. Serial No. 241.025. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JONAS L. MLTOIIELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logan, in the county of Hocking and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Gripping-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved automatic grippingclutch to clamp a cable in motion, the object being to provide a device adapted for application to and to be carried by a car and to work in connection with a moving wire cable, rope, or-chain, whereby the car may be hitched to the moving cable or automaticall y detached therefrom at certain points along the track. The invention is applicable to cars employed in mines and to cars employed for any purpose on grades or levels.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a bottom view of the clutch as seen man inverted position from that in which it is intended to be used. Fig. 2 is a side view of the clutch. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line a: 00. Fig. 4 is a front view of the sliding jaw. Fig. 5 is a side view of the pivoted jaw. Fig. 6 isa side view of the track, car, and cable. Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of the track, ear, and cable.

The letterA designates the bottom of a car; B, the caraxle. This gripping-clutch is pref erably attached to the car-axle in some suitable way, though it may be attached to the can body direct. In the presentinstancetwo clips, 0 C, are set astride of the axle and are secured rigidly by bolts a. a One of the gripping-jaws F is attached to one clip, 0, and has a slight sliding movement in the direction of the other jaw. To permit this sliding movement the first clip, 0, (see Fig. 3,) has at each side a lateral flange, b, and the jaw F has a counterpart shape which sets on the clip and has lateral grooves c to receive the said flanges. The sliding jaw at each side has a socket, (l, and a rod, G, enters each socket loosely through a hole, (2, in the front. A head, 0, is fitted loosely in the socket and the rod passes through the said head and is made fast by a nut, e. A spiral spring, 7, surrounds the rod and occupies the socket. The other ends of the two rods G are attached to the second clip, G, by means of a bolt, 9. It will thus be seen that the extent of the movement of the sliding jaw F is such as the spiral springs will allow. This movement adapts the gripper-jaws to take hold of cables of different sizes. One jaw, F, has a shank, 71, which is hinged or pivoted to the clip 0, and has movement toward and away from the other jaw. In the face of both jaws is a straight half-round groove, 6. \Vhen the two jaws F and Fare brought together, they clamp the cable H. The pivoted jaw F has at its back a bolt, 'k, to which are attached two curved arms I, ro'ectin toward the second clip, 0. A V-shaped iron has one end, J, jointed at Z to the two curved arms I, and at its angle part this iron is pivoted on the second clip by the bolt The two curved arms I and the end J of the pivoted iron comprise a toggle-joint by which the jaws are opened and closed. Fig. 2 in full lines shows the position of the toggle-jointI Jwhen the jaws are closed, and in broken lines indicate the position of the same parts when the jaws are open.

A stop device, m, is provided to prevent the 7 joint lot the toggle, when closing the jaws, from moving too close to the axle. This stop is necessary, for the reason that if the toggle could bow in toward the axle without limit the grippcrjaws would be opened. The projecting end J of the V-shaped iron serves as a lever by which to relax the gripper-jaws.

Between the rails of the track T, at the starting-point of the car, is a bar, U, which inclines upward. The purpose of this deviceis to press the joint I of the toggle, and thereby cause the clutch to close its grip on the rope or cable H, which is in motion. To eifect this closing of the jaws, it is only necessary to push the c arA forward and bring the joint Zof the toggle in contact with the inclined bar. Continuing now to push the car, it will be seen the highest part of the incline raises the toggle or moves it toward the axle B, and when the joint Z passes the highest point the toggle is checked by the stop at and the gripperjaws are closed. 1

A releasing device is provided to act in conjunction with the projecting end J of the toggle and cause the clutch to be detached from the cable H. This consists of a diagonal or obliquely-placed bar, 10, situated between the two rails of the track. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the release lever or end J has position inclined toward the gripper when the bar 10 is placed obliquely, the inclined release-lever J comes in contact with the side of the oblique bar and is forced by said bar sidewise from the inclined position and assumes a vertical position, thereby releasing the grip of the clutch from the cable.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a cable-gripping clutch, the combination of a sliding gripper-jaw, F, a hinged jaw, F, and toggle-joint, as set forth.

2. In a cable-gripping clutch, the combination of a sliding gripper-jaw, F, springs to press the said sliding jaw, a second movable jaw, F, and a toggle-joint, as set forth.

3. In a cable-gripping clutch, the combination of a sliding gripper-jaw, F, springs to press the said sliding jaw, a second movable gripper-jaw,F, atogglejointonepart of which is pivoted to said second jaw and the other part to a stationary bolt, 9, and rods G, which at one end connect with the springs and sliding jaw and at the other end connect with the said stationary bolt, as set forth.

4. In a cable-gripping clutch, the combination of a car-axle, two gripping-jaws, means, substantially as described, to move said jaws, and clips connecting the jaws with the axle, as set forth.

5. In a cable-gripping clutch, the combination of a clip provided with slide-flanges b, a jaw, F, movable on said flanges, a second jaw, F, hinged to the said clip, and means, substantially as described, to move said jaws, as set forth.

6. In a cable-gripping clutch, the combina tion, with a movablejaw and a togglejoint to actuate the jaw, of an'inclined bar, U, adapted to close the gripper-jaws when the toggle-joint in cont-act with the said bar is moved along to the highest part of the incline, as set forth.

7. In a cable-gripping clutch. the combination, with a movable jaw and a togglejoint to actuate the jaw, of a lever, J, attached to one part of the toggle-joint, and an obliquelyplaced bar, '10, whereby when the said lever comes in contact with the oblique bar the grip of the jaws will be relaxed from the cable, as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JONAS L. MITCHELL.

Vitnesses:

H. JASPER, JOHN WRAITH. 

